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PAK vs ENG: Harry Brook smashes England's first triple century in over three decades

Brook's remarkable innings came off just 310 balls, making him only the sixth English cricketer to achieve the feat in Test cricket

PAK vs ENG: Harry Brook smashes England's first triple century in over three decades PHOTO: AFP

Harry Brook etched his name into England's cricket history books by becoming the first England player in 34 years to score a Test triple century, reaching the milestone on day four of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Brook's remarkable innings came off just 310 balls, making him only the sixth English cricketer to achieve the feat in Test cricket.

His knock of 317, which included 29 fours and three sixes, surpassed Denis Compton's 278 (set in 1954 at Trent Bridge) as the highest individual score by an England batter against Pakistan. Brook's innings was part of a record-breaking partnership of 454 runs with Joe Root, who contributed 262, making it England's highest-ever stand in Test cricket.

Brook’s 317 puts him in elite company, joining the ranks of England's previous triple centurions, including Leonard Hutton, Wally Hammond, and Graham Gooch, who was the last Englishman to achieve the milestone with 333 runs against India in 1990. Despite his heroics, Brian Lara's unbeaten 400 against England in Antigua in 2004 remains the highest individual score in Test history.

England’s Triple Centurions in Test Cricket:

  • 364 - L Hutton vs Australia, The Oval, 1938
  • 336* - WR Hammond vs New Zealand, Auckland, 1933
  • 333 - GA Gooch vs India, Lord’s, 1990
  • 325 - A Sandham vs West Indies, Jamaica, 1930
  • 317 - HC Brook vs Pakistan, Multan, 2024
  • 310* - JH Edrich vs New Zealand, Headingley, 1965

England declared their innings at a mammoth 823 for 7, securing a commanding 267-run lead. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett also made valuable contributions with scores of 78 and 84, respectively. The visitors maintained an aggressive approach throughout their innings, registering a rapid run rate of 5.48, with the final 10 overs producing 81 runs at a blistering 8.10 runs per over.

In response, Pakistan's second innings started disastrously, with opener Abdullah Shafique falling to the very first delivery. The hosts are currently struggling at 100+ runs, having lost six wickets